I’ve returned here not because I’ve missed the stench of oil, the sight of the constant flaring or the headaches from the ever present chemicals; I’ve returned because we had a chance to do some good here, and give a helping hand to the Indigenous Peoples of Russia.

We invited representatives from all over the Russian Arctic, as well as one from Greenland and one from the Niger Delta, to come to Usinsk. We invited them here to an Arctic Indigenous conference to show them what is going on here, but more importantly to get them to join forces in their struggle against Big Oil’s destruction of their homes.

During this three-day conference, we heard from Reindeer hunters whose very way of life has been permanently altered due to the oil industry; we heard from Alice Ukoko, who comes from Nigeria where her people have been dying because of the same reckless, inhumane activities of the oil industry there – in her case, Shell. We heard from a man whose brother died cleaning up the big oil spill here in 1994, from a representative of the Saami Parliament, from a scientist who conducted oil spill modeling research that showed the devastating effects an offshore Arctic spill would have on their seas and shores.

We even heard directly from a Lukoil representative, the head of their “environmental” division, when he took us to see their clean-up operations in the field. This was perhaps the most staggering moment—after following our bus as it visited spill after spill, he invited us to see the “green” side of Lukoil. We thought we would be witnessing their greenwash in action, but to the contrary – the place where he brought us was the site of the most extensive on-land oil spills we had seen; a large, black, oozing swatch of oil, stretching as far as the eye could see, and with nothing in place preventing it from leaking into the surrounding environment. I can still taste the noxious fumes.

All of this, however staggering, is not the reason why I’m surprised. I’m surprised because I thought I was prepared for what we would meet today on our excursion into the belly of the beast. But even though I’ve witnessed this destruction before, my mind couldn’t prepare me for the way my senses reacted. When you see, smell and taste the air from a massive pool of toxic production water your reaction is not controlled by your mind, but by your instincts. This huge rusted lake of “water” is used in the oil fields then pumped back into a massive pond where it kills everything in its path, until it flows directly into the local river — a river that was once so important for the locals.

The inhumanity and the blatant disregard for the environment and human life, struck me in a way I wouldn’t expect – especially after feeling so mentally prepared. Who does this to their own people, their own land, and their own wildlife? To me, it is incomprehensible. It is not something I will ever get used to or be prepared for; nor should anyone have to become accustomed to such corruption and disdain for life. One of the participants so correctly concluded: What we’re watching here is not only an environmental disaster — it is the end of nature.

Arctic Indigenous People Say No to Arctic Oil Drilling

Portraits of participants attending Arctic Indigenous Peoples conference organised by Greenpeace, on the effect oil extraction has on the lives and cultures of indigenous peoples living in the Russian arctic.

Above I have witnessed the devastation that unregulated oil production can do to a land based site. I live on the gulf of Mexico. Although we can not ...

Above I have witnessed the devastation that unregulated oil production can do to a land based site. I live on the gulf of Mexico. Although we can not see the mess that the deep water drilling has caused. The damage has been done.

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Pete Walsh
says:

Russia for instance, will penalise a few people for speaking out against its corrupt leaders and oppress the rest while taking huge cuts from the prof...

Russia for instance, will penalise a few people for speaking out against its corrupt leaders and oppress the rest while taking huge cuts from the profits of the oil and gas companies. They are not concerned for the environmental costs - after all, it will be the next generations problem, not their own.

I don't need to say any more, everyone knows what I would say because they are thinking it for themselves.

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(Unregistered) empacher
says:

In support of Luc Boisvert's comment, above. Can Greenpeace create an on-line forum for members of communities, globally, with oil refineries and who are fighting for changes in industry practices. I live in Richmond, CA where Chevron recently had a fire that sent several thousand local residents to the hospital because of toxic smoke. For the first time, local citizens groups are participating in the review of what led to the fire and solutions http://africam.berkeley.edu/faculty/laguerre.html
It is important other refinery communities know about this local victory, share other strategies, and coordinate globally to further empower local community efforts.

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(Unregistered) jackie
says:

Silly question really, Why is this happening? because it can! Sounds paranoid and maybe defeatists, 'they' are in charge of ALL, and as the fo...

Silly question really, Why is this happening? because it can! Sounds paranoid and maybe defeatists, 'they' are in charge of ALL, and as the fodder/surfs of their world we can do nothing! Unless as suggested we stand up and make our voices heard, enough is enough, this earth belongs to all of us. Money and power be-gets money and power, money and power be-gets greed, selfishness and ignorance. I am not a communist but oh for a fairer world for ALL and EVERYTHING sharing this earth.